By Brad French
Most engine companies across the United States do not respond to working high-rise fires with much regularity. Many crews make daily responses to these types of buildings for automatic fire alarms caused by faulty detectors, smoke from cooking on the stove, malicious false activations of pull stations, and water system pressure surges. The complacency that can result from false alarms and mundane, minor incidents can become problematic in the infrequent event of a working fire. These types of structures are among the most important in our jurisdictions to preplan, whether that be a formal process or a simple, brief look around in stairwells, hose cabinets, and utility rooms as we’re leaving medical responses and other incidents.
A number of formal resources are available to guide fire departments in preincident planning, including National Fire Protection Association 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, numerous courses in the Command & Control series at the National Fire Academy, and examples of preplanning documents from departments across the country. Whatever method and resources used, all members of the organization should be on the same page regarding information gathering and accuracy vetting in coordination with command officers and fire prevention personnel. Preplanning information can then be made available to all crews through printed documents, electronic files accessible on apparatus-mounted mobile data computers (MDCs) or in packaged narrated training courses on a learning management system (LMS) that serves as a virtual “tour” of the building (photo 1).
Preplan Components
A much more expansive list of important preplanning items than that given below could be formed based on the specific hazards of certain buildings, but some basic initial operational points to be surveyed during a formal preincident planning session or an informal walk-through in a high-rise building would include the following:
• Location of fire department connections (FDCs) that supply the building’s fire protection system. Determine if the building contains a standpipe system, sprinkler system, or both and exactly which system(s) each FDC supplies. In some cases, multiple FDCs can indicate multiple pressure zones in a tall building, separate risers supplying different areas, or multiple piping sets separate for the sprinkler system and the standpipe system. Note also the difference between the FDC and any fire pump test headers used to test the fire pump annually. Confusion between an FDC and a test header could be very problematic for a supplying engine company.
• Location the main fire alarm control panel (FACP). Note the following details: Is the main panel box locked? Where is the key? Does the panel require a code for silence? For reset? Are alarms that appear on the panel detailed and specific–Floor 12, smoke detector, west hallway, for example? Or are alarms nondescriptive and simply “zoned” to a general area–Zone 8 Alarm? Is there an internal communication system such as a firefighter phone system or public address speaker system? Are there additional fire-related controls such as a smoke-management system control panel or elevator status information near the FACP? Are smaller annunciator panels in the vestibule or lobby area? How much functionality and information do they provide vs. the main FACP?
• Location and operation of standpipe system hose valves. Is the standpipe system Class I (2½-inch outlet, fire department use only), Class II (hose with 1½-inch outlet, occupant or brigade use), or Class III (2½- and 1½-inch outlets, combination use)? Are the standpipe outlets in the stairwells? If so, are they in all stairwells or only certain ones (specify)? If the outlets are in wall cabinets, how far are the wall cabinets from the stairwell? Will the engine high-rise pack be enough to reach all areas of the floor even if you connect on the floor below as you should? Do you need to bring extra hose lengths? Are there pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) or pressure-restricting devices (PRDs) on the outlets? Can the engine company adjust them if necessary? Did you notice any debris when you took off the caps and looked inside with a flashlight? Note the pressure on any gauges in the system also (understanding that this is a static pressure, not residual).
• Location of sprinkler isolation valve. While in the stairwell area looking at standpipe connections, note if any flow isolation valves for sprinklers are on that floor. If a water pipe bursts or after the fire is controlled by a sprinkler head, water flow to a specific floor can often be stopped by a 90˚degree turn valve or small outside screw and yoke (OS&Y) valve in the piping to sprinkler heads. Using these floor isolation valves (instead of the main system valve in the basement) allows you to stop the water flow faster, as the only water remaining to be drained comes only from that floor alone, not all floors above that point (photo 3). In addition, the standpipe system and sprinkler system on all remaining floors of the building remain in service during the incident. Evaluate the location and position of the isolation valves. Would you need a stool or small ladder to reach them? Are they locked with a chain and padlock? In which stairwell are the isolation valves? If not in the stairwell, check above nearby ceiling tiles or in closets near the riser. While examining sprinkler piping, determine if the system is full coverage or only a partial system covering egress hallways or specific areas.
• Elevator types and locations. Any high-rise building will have an elevator. How many elevators are in the building? Is there a separate freight elevator? Are there multiple banks? Are there split banks or “express” elevators that have blind shafts in certain areas? Which banks serve which floors? Are these elevators traction or hydraulic? Where is the elevator control/mechanical room? Are there slots for drop keys or other style keys for hoistway door access? Are they on every floor or just some floors? Are there Phase I/II key slots for recall and fire department control? Is there a shunt trip system? Where are the elevator control keys and drop keys located? If in a lock box, do you have the code? Is it still accurate? Many departments carry their own sets of drop keys and common Phase I/II key sets instead of relying on building security or maintenance.
• Presence of special hazards. There could be a nearly endless list of special hazards for buildings, but be sure to ask high-rise building maintenance personnel about a few specifics. Is there any notable, dangerous material storage anywhere in the building? Are there hazards such as photovoltaic panels or cellular phone transmitters on the roof? Are there any large, uncompartmented spaces, such as multiple floors with interior convenience-style stairwells that create a single, large area for rapid smoke/fire transmission (photo 4)? Are stairwell doors from the stairs onto each floor always unlocked? On that note, which stairwells penetrate the roof? Are there any missing floors, such as the commonly skipped 13th? The series of questions for building personnel can be quite extensive. The above list is simply a starting point.
One way to disseminate the information gained through preplanning to the remainder of the fire department in an engaging way is to compile the technical information, pictures, and diagrams into a virtual tour of the building on presentation slide-style software (photo 5). These preplanning familiarization “tours” can be made available on a citywide computer server for accessing by company officers looking for a simple daily drill or reviewed by individual personnel on a learning management system for continuing education. Voiceover narrations and videos can be added to add additional points of note beyond what is listed on each slide. Preplanning tours by companies first-due to high-rise or complex target hazard buildings are beneficial for fire department personnel, who build familiarity and competence with building systems, and the building maintenance and management staff, who gain confidence and respect for the local fire services responsible for their structure and its occupants. Make sure your engine company is ready when that frequent false alarm turns into a working incident.
BIO
Brad French is a lieutenant with the Dayton (OH) Fire Department (DFD), where he is assigned to a downtown engine company. He is a 16-year member of the fire service and holds degrees in fire science and fire administration. He is a lead instructor at the DFD Training Center, a member of the board of directors for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI), and an instructor with the ISFSI “Principles of Modern Fire Attack” program.
